But then you gotta get back to your guy and box out. They love the long rebounds and Mamadi esque tip backs. Box out Box out Box out and it can be an easy game for us
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I LOATHE hearing people say they don’t want to be #1. I’ll never understand it. It’s great to be number 1. Great exposure for the program.
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Agree it’s the entire point. If you’re scared of the spotlight or the moment GTF out of here and stop being sawft
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After it’s gotten me this far? 
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Of course, there are those who don’t believe it has any meaning in December. I really don’t care one way or the other. If nothing else, look at UNC. They were #1 for three weeks and are now unranked. It probably didn’t hurt them to be #1, but I doubt that it did much good for them, either. Except for those fans who’s self-worth is dependent on their team’s success. Now, when the second week of February comes around, let’s re-visit this whole conversation.
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I mean, rankings never really mean anything in terms of how the team will actually perform. The reason rankings really have value is the media attention and publicity it gets your program. That helps with recruiting and bringing in revenue, and can do those things at any point during the year. I’d argue that’s why it has value. There’s really no other point to it - the tournament seedings nor anything ‘real’ are based on AP rankings.
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Which then begs another question: Is the value of being ranked #1 greater than the loss of value associated with being replaced as #1? I don’t have an answer, but I suspect that performance over time projects a more lasting and meaningful image. Coach Bennett’s record at UVa probably impresses more recruits than the rankings, although you could argue that the two are inextricably entwined.
I think Louisville is #1. Best team I’ve seen in a long time. They have everything.
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Parrish, not an AP voter but the head of the human centipede that is the AP voter group, weighs in:
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He’d already had Purdue ahead of Virginia, so looks like he just moved Houston down, Bama up, and left the rest of the top 5 the same. (Same for most of the rest of his Top 25.)
Them’s the rules: If a team loses, they move down. If a team notches an unusually impressive win, they can jump a team that didn’t lose. Otherwise, no change. It’s no wonder the polls get less predictive as the season moves on.
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Except guards, but who really need guards anyway?
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Houston plays NC A & T Tuesday so they probably won’t be coming of a loss. Regardless we have to play a lot better than we have the last few games to beat them and I believe we will. We have a history of playing down with the competition we are playing. That’s why we rarely see a blowout anymore. I miss those days when the packline was like a Boa.We used to slowly suck the life out of our opponent. We rarely do that anymore
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I think that brand of defense will make a return in the coming years with the level of athletes we brought in 2022 and are adding in 2023. Having guards/wings like Gertrude, Bond, and Dunn who are switchable and profile as great rebounders at their position will help a lot of the problems we’ve had in recent years with limiting second chance opportunities. Just need to add a bruiser in the post as a physical presence to spell Buchanan and we’ll be golden.
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I’d just add that bringing in another PG with plus size/length at his position could help too (although if forced to choose, I’d probably choose a PG who can shoot the three at a high level, but why not both?).
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We got away from having many good athletes for a while and it has hurt us .The future looks bright !
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Both would be great. Just got to get him here
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I’d take one of each tbh. Give me a 6’0-6’1 PG who can shoot the lights out and check other small, quick guards that we go up against, as well as a more rangy PG who uses his size to drive off ball screens and get in passing lanes defensively. If the latter can also shoot it that would be ideal.
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They have a few minor, easily covered flaws like: they can’t handle the ball, they can’t shoot, they can’t defend, they can’t rebound, and don’t appear well coached. Those are negligible and easily overcome by their strengths!!
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On his podcast yesterday he actually said those are his rules currently.
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Lol then he might as well be replaced by a computer for the poll because at least you can program a computer to follow those rules consistently.
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